Congresswoman Deborah Ross was in Zebulon last week to announce $800,000 in federal grant funding for public transit improvements in Eastern Wake County.
The grant will pay for 10 new bus stops in Wendell and Zebulon, some of the fastest-growing towns in the county. The new stops will feature ADA curb ramps, crosswalks, pedestrian signals, and—most importantly—all-day, hourly service.
The atmosphere outside Zebulon Town Hall was celebratory on Friday morning as Ross mingled with local leaders ahead of a press conference. Zebulon mayor Glenn York, Wendell mayor Virginia Gray, acting GoTriangle CEO Byron Smith, and Wake County commissioners Shinica Thomas, Don Mial, and Susan Evans exchanged hugs and handshakes as they arrived, seemingly eager to end their week on a high note.
After loitering around the make-your-own hot chocolate bar for a few minutes, the officials settled into rows of plastic folding chairs next to a podium and a giant novelty check. York was the first to take the podium.
“As mayor, I’ve had many of the residents talk to me about the need for transit improvements in the town of Zebulon,” York declared to a small crowd of onlookers. “With today’s announcement, I am proud to say we’ve heard you, and help is on the way.”
GoTriangle’s current presence in Eastern Wake County amounts to five bus stops along the ZWX express route between Downtown Raleigh and Zebulon. Service is limited to a handful of trips per day in each direction during peak commuting hours. Soon, that will change to all-day, hourly service that reaches new destinations, including residential neighborhoods and shopping centers.
“Projects like this don’t just happen overnight,” Ross said when it was her turn behind the podium. “Today’s event is a testament to what we can achieve through years of collaboration across all levels of government.”
Ross called Wake County “the best place to live in the United States of America” and thanked York and Gray for their partnership on this project.
According to a 2021 market analysis, demand for public transit in Wendell and Zebulon is relatively low compared to the Triangle’s dense population centers—Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and parts of Cary. But transit demand—along with population density—is projected to increase throughout the county by 2040. Investing in transit improvements today helps to lay the groundwork for future growth, Ross explained.
“It is essential that our Eastern Wake County residents have access to public transit connecting them to employment opportunities, health care, education, the new Wake Tech campus, and much more,” she said.
According to Rick Major, director of capital development at GoTriangle, the new bus stops will be operational within about one year.
Correction: The acting CEO of GoTriangle is Byron Smith, not Byron Adams. The story has been corrected.
Chloe Courtney Bohl is a corps member for Report for America. Reach her at [email protected]. Comment on this story at [email protected].
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